Beware of Brain Rot: The Threat of Excessive Consumption of Low-Quality Online Content!

 

Beware of Brain Rot:

The Threat of Excessive Consumption of Low-Quality Online Content

 

Data from Data.ai show that the average Indonesian spends 5.7 hours per day using digital devices, making Indonesia the country with the highest daily digital device usage in the world in 2024, according to the State of Mobile report.

According to Laurie Ann Manwell, a Canadian psychologist who studies addiction and mental health, spending too much time staring at screens can negatively affect attention, concentration, learning, memory, emotional regulation, and social functioning.

With such high levels of gadget use, public consumption of online content has also increased significantly. Unfortunately, this growing intensity is not always accompanied by high-quality content consumption. Instead, short, shallow, and sensational content increasingly dominates digital platforms, creating new challenges for mental health and human thinking capacity.

Amid this reality, the term Brain Rot has received considerable attention. In fact, it was named the most popular word by Oxford University Press after a public vote involving 37,000 participants. The term was originally used by Henry David Thoreau in his 1854 book Walden to criticize a society that avoided deep thinking and preferred superficial matters. Thoreau viewed this phenomenon as a sign of declining mental and intellectual capacity. Today, the term has evolved in meaning in the digital era.

In the modern context, Brain Rot refers to a state of mental decline caused by excessive consumption of low-quality or trivial online content. This phenomenon is commonly found on platforms such as TikTok, which are highly popular among Generation Z and Generation Alpha. Shallow short-form videos, excessive visual stimulation, misleading headlines, invalid information, shocking content, and harmful trends that are easy to imitate all contribute to this condition. As a result, the brain becomes accustomed to instant stimulation and gradually loses the ability to think critically and deeply.

The Dangers and Symptoms of Brain Rot

The phenomenon of Brain Rot in the digital era not only affects mental health but also has the potential to damage overall brain function. Brain Rot can trigger cognitive and emotional dysfunction, ultimately affecting productivity and quality of life. Some of the dangers include:

• Cognitive Decline

Excessive exposure to instant content reduces the brain’s ability to process complex information. This weakens analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity.

• Emotional Regulation Disorders

Overstimulation from visual and auditory content can disrupt emotional regulation. Users may become more prone to anxiety, depression, or even aggression. Repeated exposure to adrenaline-triggering content makes it difficult for the brain to return to a calm state.

• Dependence on Instant Dopamine

Low-quality content is often designed to trigger short-term dopamine release, creating addictive effects. This reduces motivation to seek more meaningful sources of satisfaction, such as learning or real-life social interaction.

• Effects on Child and Adolescent Development

Developing brains are highly vulnerable to the negative impacts of Brain Rot. Children and teenagers who are excessively exposed to instant content may experience impaired social development, difficulties forming self-identity, and reduced learning ability.

Symptoms of Brain Rot

The following symptoms should be recognized early so they can be addressed promptly:

• Difficulty concentrating: trouble focusing on tasks that require deep attention, often accompanied by ineffective multitasking habits.
• Mental disorientation: difficulty understanding situational or environmental context, leading to frequent confusion.
• Memory problems: decreased ability to retain short-term information, especially recent events.
• Decline in self-care: neglect of basic routines such as eating regularly, maintaining personal hygiene, or getting enough sleep.
• Emotional instability: becoming easily irritated, anxious without clear reasons, or losing motivation for activities once enjoyed.
• Difficulty socializing: reduced face-to-face interaction, feeling awkward in social settings, and an increased risk of social isolation.
• Weakened decision-making ability: difficulty considering options rationally and a tendency to make impulsive decisions without careful thought.

How Can We Prevent It?

To prevent Brain Rot, it is important to take appropriate measures. Limit daily screen time according to recommendations: no more than two hours for children and a maximum of four hours for adults outside work-related activities. This can help reduce eye strain and mental fatigue.

Next, choose content wisely by avoiding applications or content that trigger stress or addiction, and instead focus on educational, inspirational, or self-development content. Regular digital detoxification is also essential. Reduce digital device usage periodically to allow time for self-reflection or activities that do not involve digital interaction.

Create a healthy digital environment by adjusting notifications so they are less disruptive, curating social media feeds to display only content that supports well-being, and using app time-limit features. Committing to screen-free periods, such as before bedtime or during meals, can help establish healthier habits.

In addition, fill your time with more meaningful activities. Shift attention away from digital devices by engaging in meditation, exercise, reading books, or learning new skills such as playing a musical instrument or studying a foreign language. Spending time with family, playing with pets, or enjoying nature can also effectively maintain emotional balance.

By implementing these measures, we can create a healthier and more balanced digital lifestyle. In addition to protecting mental and physical health, these efforts can improve focus, productivity, and overall quality of life amid the ever-growing flow of information.

Source:

Elsi Yuliyanti. Beware of Brain Rot: The Threat of Excessive Consumption of Low-Quality Online Content. DKIS Cirebon, January 6, 2025.

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